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Podcasting · head to head

Captivate vs Podcast Addict

Captivate logo

Captivate

Podcasting

Smart podcast hosting with AI insights

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Podcast Addict logo

Podcast Addict

Podcasting

The most popular podcast app on Android

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Captivate tiers are download ceilings and nothing else: 30,000 a month on Personal, 150,000 on Professional and 300,000 on Business; Podcast Addict android-only, no iOS app available
  • They diverge on capability: Captivate covers Unlimited hosting, Podcast Addict covers Podcast discovery.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Captivate and Podcast Addict actually diverge.

Attributes where Captivate and Podcast Addict differ
AttributeCaptivatePodcast Addict
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
PlatformsWebAndroid
Founded20162011

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Podcasting).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Captivate

  • Unlimited hosting
  • AI analytics
  • Smart recommendations
  • Distribution
  • Monetization
  • Audience insights
  • All podcast platforms
  • Social media

Only in Podcast Addict

  • Podcast discovery
  • Playlist management
  • Variable playback speed
  • Sleep timer
  • OPML import/export
  • Android Auto
  • Chromecast
  • Wear OS

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Captivate

  • Podcast hosting with unlimited shows on any tiernot Podcast Addict
  • Distribution to the major podcast directoriesnot Podcast Addict
  • Audience analytics by episode and platformnot Podcast Addict
  • Running several podcasts under one subscriptionnot Podcast Addict

Podcast Addict

  • Podcast listeningnot Captivate
  • Podcast discoverynot Captivate
  • Offline playbacknot Captivate

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Captivate

  • Tiers are download ceilings and nothing else: 30,000 a month on Personal, 150,000 on Professional and 300,000 on Business
  • A show that exceeds its allowance for two consecutive months is expected to move up a tier
  • Above 300,000 downloads a month the plan is quote-only
  • Prices are quoted in euros at the yearly rate

Podcast Addict

  • Android-only, no iOS app available
  • Free version displays ads from external networks that redirect away from the app
  • No cross-device synchronization or cloud backup of listening progress

Pricing, plan by plan

Captivate

Free
  • Personal$17/month
    • up to 30,000 downloads/month
  • Professional$44/month
    • up to 150,000 downloads/month
  • Business$90/month
    • up to 300,000 downloads/month

Podcast Addict

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited podcasts
    • All features
    • Ad-supported
  • Premium$2.99/one-time
    • Ad-free experience
    • Support development
    • All features

Which should you pick?

Choose Captivate if

  • You need unlimited hosting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want ai analytics.
Captivate review

Choose Podcast Addict if

  • You need podcast discovery.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Android.
  • You also want playlist management.
Podcast Addict review

Questions people ask

Is Captivate or Podcast Addict better?
Neither clearly leads. Captivate starts at Free and Podcast Addict at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Captivate or Podcast Addict?
Captivate starts at Free and Podcast Addict at Free.
Does Captivate or Podcast Addict run on more platforms?
Captivate runs on Web. Podcast Addict runs on Android.
Can I use Captivate for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Captivate best used for?
Captivate is most often used for podcast hosting with unlimited shows on any tier, distribution to the major podcast directories, audience analytics by episode and platform, running several podcasts under one subscription. Of those, podcast hosting with unlimited shows on any tier and distribution to the major podcast directories are not what Podcast Addict is typically brought in for.
What can Captivate do that Podcast Addict cannot?
Captivate covers Unlimited hosting, AI analytics, Smart recommendations, Distribution. Podcast Addict covers Podcast discovery, Playlist management, Variable playback speed, Sleep timer.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Captivate: How much does Captivate cost?

Captivate pricing starts at EUR 17/month for the Personal plan (annual billing). Professional is EUR 44/month and Business is EUR 90/month, with higher monthly rates on monthly billing plans.

Source
Podcast Addict: Is Podcast Addict available for iOS?

No. Podcast Addict is Android-exclusive and has no iOS version. Users with Apple devices must use alternatives like Apple Podcasts or PocketCasts.

Source
Captivate: Is there a free trial for Captivate?

Yes, all Captivate plans include a 30-day free trial with access to all features; no credit card required to start.

Source
Podcast Addict: Does Podcast Addict work offline?

Yes. You can download episodes and listen to them without an internet connection. The app defaults to WiFi-only downloading to conserve data.

Source
Captivate: What happens if I exceed my Captivate download limit?

Captivate will notify you after a second consecutive month over your limit; no overage fees apply if you temporarily exceed the monthly allowance.

Source
Podcast Addict: Can I import my podcasts from another app?

Yes. Podcast Addict supports OPML file import, allowing you to easily transfer your podcast subscriptions from apps like iTunes or other podcast players.

Source
Captivate: Are podcasts and storage unlimited on all Captivate plans?

Yes, unlimited podcasts and storage are included across the Personal, Professional, and Business tiers; limits are only on monthly downloads.

Source
Podcast Addict: Is Podcast Addict completely free?

The free version is ad-supported with ads from external networks. A Premium tier is available for $0.99 per month or $9.99 per year to remove ads.

Source
Podcast Addict: What playback features does Podcast Addict offer?

Podcast Addict offers customizable playback speed (0.8X to 5.0X), volume boost, silence skipping, mono audio conversion, and individual podcast-level preferences.

Source
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